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SMC Pentax-M 100mm F2.8 Review RSS Feed

SMC Pentax-M 100mm F2.8

Sharpness 
 9.3
Aberrations 
 8.5
Bokeh 
 8.9
Handling 
 9.3
Value 
 9.5
Reviews Views Date of last review
58 272,146 Thu August 31, 2023
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
100% of reviewers $103.83 9.23
SMC Pentax-M 100mm F2.8

SMC Pentax-M 100mm F2.8
supersize
SMC Pentax-M 100mm F2.8
supersize

Description:
This is a compact non-macro 100mm telephoto lens.



SMC Pentax-M 100mm F2.8
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
Full-frame / 35mm film
Lens Mount
Pentax K
Aperture Ring
Yes (no A setting)
Diaphragm
Automatic, 6 blades
Optics
5 elements, 5 groups
Mount Variant
K
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F2.8
Min. Aperture
F22
Focusing
Manual
Min. Focus
100 cm
Max. Magnification
0.13x
Filter Size
49 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 16 ° / 14 °
Full frame: 24 ° / 20 °
Hood
Clip-on hood for 85mm/100mm lenses
Case
Dedicated hard case
Lens Cap
Plastic clip-on
Coating
SMC
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Diam x Length
62.5 x 55.7 mm
Weight
225 g
Production Years
1977 to 1984
Engraved Name
smc PENTAX-M 1:2.8 100mm
Product Code
23660
Reviews
User reviews
Features:
Manual FocusAperture RingFull-Frame SupportDiscontinued
Price History:



Add Review of SMC Pentax-M 100mm F2.8
Author:
Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Descending) Showing Reviews 46-58 of 58
Giveaway winner!

Registered: December, 2007
Location: beantown
Posts: 944

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: December 14, 2007 Recommended | Price: $145.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Sharp and solid built
Cons: feels too light
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10   

Its a good lens and the weight is comfortable as M series tend to be light, but feels well built.
A little test I ran back in 2002ish, but my choice of film made things less than clear so with a grain...
My little test rated the lens at about 74lpmm average @f4 and 81lpmm @f5.6 and 84lpmm @f8, is that good? My test is less than scientific lab perfect and the test lighting was not great, but the lens to my eyes is superb. Had the lens since 1999 with matching hood and case. Not found my test results for wide open, but regular use shots seem very good.

Also worth noting... GET A HOOD FOR YOUR LENS! I found a 8 to 14 lpmm jump in some tests due to glare being controlled. SMC is great, but not absolutely perfect.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: August, 2007
Location: Near Utrecht, Netherlands
Posts: 1,221

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: September 22, 2007 Recommended | Price: $125.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Small, nice handling
Cons: none, really
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 7    Value: 8   

I bought this lens in 2002, I think, to go with my MZ-5N, for indoor portraiture. It met all my expectations from day 1 one. I like the feel of the lens; and I found that 100mm is a great focus distance for portraiture. I even got so used to it, that I think the 135mm is too close.

That's immediately why I do not use it very often, anymore. Since I have a DSLR, the crop factor turns this in a "feels-like-150mm-lens" and that is too close.

In my experience the lens makes very sharp images, even under pretty hard circumstances. A big pro is that it is so small.
   
Inactive Account

Registered: September, 2006
Location: Perth
Posts: 669

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: September 15, 2007 Recommended | Price: $120.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Solid Build, relatively sharp wide open
Cons:

I bought this lens for when my two hobbies come together (martial arts & photography) as I needed something relatively fast to take indoor shots and freeze the action. Not having the funds for one of the new DA* zooms (or even one of the F or FA variants) I decided to try an m series prime.

This lens performs its duties admirably pictures are sharp even at f2.8 I am very happy with this solid little lens. I do find I need to tweak the contrast up a little with this lens compared to my DA 16-45 - but that may just be a matter of my taste.
   
New Member

Registered: February, 2019
Posts: 15
Review Date: November 2, 2020 Recommended | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Just like a 135mm M Series
Cons: Too expensive
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 7    Handling: 10    Value: 8    Camera Used: Film   

If you need a short telephoto (what many people convince themselves they need for portrait work) then this is a good one, but it is exactly the same image quality as an M series 135mm but costs four or five times as much. Slightly smaller and lighter, though. And don't think all it's useful for is portrait work, as it's as versatile as any 85mm, 105mm or 135mm lens. Alternatively, use a 50mm lens and just walk a bit closer.
   
New Member

Registered: June, 2020
Posts: 2

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: July 27, 2020 Recommended | Price: $120.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Crazy sharp from F5.6, excellent contrast
Cons: Nervous bokeh sometimes, weak at F2.8
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 6    Handling: 9    Value: 8    Camera Used: EOS 60D   

Above F5.6 this is crazy sharp lens, high contrast and great resolution.

Using it for close up (macro tubes) it destroys Tair 11A, Jupiter 37A, CZJ Sonnar and Pentax-K 135/2.5.







   
Pentaxian

Registered: April, 2009
Location: Madrid, Spain
Posts: 10,843
Review Date: July 21, 2020 Recommended | Price: $130.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Compact, very well built, reasonably sharp
Cons: Not too sharp wide open, images lack a bit of punch
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 9    Value: 9   

I bought this in lieu of a faster 85mm lens, though not too long after I got the M 85mm f/2 and then the 100mm didn't get much use as the 85mm is a really superb lens.

The lens is very well built but not too heavy, exactly what you would expect of an M. Focusing is very smooth and the aperture ring clicks nicely. The aperture goes straight from f/2.8 to f/4, a whole stop, one of the little annoyances common with older lenses.

Wide open this lens is just sharp enough to use on digital. At f/4 it's considerably better and it improves as expected after that. The biggest problem with this lens is that images from it tend to be a bit low contrast and lacking in punch, though I feel that this contributes a bit to a subtlety of rendering that you don't often get with newer optics. Contrast can be increased in post processing but it's not the same as getting contrastier results straight away.

Compared to it's nearest neighbours in the M line, the 85mm f/2 is superior in every way except for the blue fringing it produces, and the 120mm f/2.8 is just superior in every way, though it's a different focal length so may not be suitable for the same photos. Compared to the Takumar 105mm f/2.8 the M is much sharper at wider apertures, though the Takumar is really, really silky smooth to operate (at least my copy is) so it's a pleasure to use. I also have a Sigma 105mm f/2.8 macro and that's optically far better than the M - sharper and with better contrast, rendering and bokeh.

The strength of this lens lies in the aforementioned subtlety of rendering and the soft colours that it brings.

If you're looking for a manual lens in this focal length then this one is adequate but there are slightly better options if you don't need it to be exactly 100mm and you want a modern (bright and contrasty) look. If you like a more "vintage" rendering then this might be just the lens for you.

Some sample images:


Waiting
by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr


IMGP6349a
by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr


Segovia
by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr


IMGP1039a
by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr


IMGP3924a
by Jonathan MacDonald, on Flickr
   
Site Supporter

Registered: October, 2008
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 8,083

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: February 18, 2017 Recommended | Price: $134.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Well built and good handling.
Cons: Could be sharper, minimum aperture of f/22
Camera Used: Pentax film bodies (K1000, KM, KX, K2, K2DMD, ME, MX, LX, Super A, P50)   

The M100/2.8 was released in 1977 and was a direct “miniaturized” replacement for the K105/2.8. The M100/2.8 was in production until 1984, when it was replaced by the A100/2.8.

Optics:
Typical “M” series optics compared to the “K “series lens it replaced. Pretty good, but nothing outstanding at any aperture.

Focal Range:
100mm is a nice focal length on FF for portrait or short telephoto work. Though it’s sad with the release of the M100/2.8 Pentax stopped producing a 105mm option for the first time since the late 1950’s.

Build:
Excellent all metal build in a smaller size & weight than its K Series predecessor.

Usage/Handling:
Excellent handling for an “M” series lens, mostly due to it being a short telephoto. The M100/2.8 also has a great distance scale and is easy to manual focus or adjust the aperture. Very nice compact telephoto lens to travel with.

The M100/2.8 uses a 49mm round plastic clip-on hood labelled: “SMC PENTAX 1:2 85mm 1:2.8-4 100mm”. This detachable lens hood will offer better protection than the smaller built-in hood on the A100/2.8. The M100/2.8 also had a dedicated hard lens case which also held the hood or you can use the shorter Pentax soft lens case from that period.

Speed:
F2.8 is an average speed for a telephoto lens in the 100mm to 135mm focal range. The 85mm lenses tended to be faster and of course more expensive. The 100mm/105mm lenses were the slower more affordable portrait option.

The M100/2.8 vs my other similar FL short telephoto primes:
I also own the K105/2.8 which is sharper at every aperture compared to the M100/2.8. The M100/2.8 is as well built & handles the same as the K105/2.8 and has a slightly better minimum focusing distance of 1 meter compared to 1.2 meters for the K105/2.8. The K105/2.8 has a better minimum aperture of f/32 than the M100/2.8’s f/22. I rated my K105/2.8 a 9.5 and the M100/2.8 gets an 8.5.

Summary:
Overall the M100/2.8 is an excellent short telephoto/portrait lens that is perfect for travelling due to its smaller size. But it’s not in the same league as its older brother the K105/2.8

Price:
I bought the M100/2.8 off eBay. It was in excellent + condition and came with the lens hood.

Sample shots taken with the M100/2.8. Photos are medium resolution scans from original slides.


Camera: KM Film: Fuji Velvia 50 ISO: 50




Camera: ME Film: Fuji Provia 100F ISO: 100
   
New Member

Registered: October, 2013
Location: Naples
Posts: 10

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: November 1, 2013 Recommended | Price: $80.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Price/performance, 2,8, well bult, compact, good sharpness and resoution
Cons: Contrast a bit low, 100mm on apsc is a a bit too long for portrait
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 7    Handling: 7    Value: 8    Camera Used: k5   

It's a good lens, The price, about 100 US dollars, makes it a good deal.

Sharpness is very good. But suffers from the low contrast. But resolution is very good so rising contrast or vibrance in post production is a way to get wonderfull pictures. If you can use ad adeguate lens hood (on apsc it should be for a 150mm focal... at least 135mm) things goes better. Anyway the smc coating resist from ghost and ray of light, even if the contrast goes down. Colours are good anyway, Bokeh is ok. Not one of the best in this kind of focal length. Abberations is ok, not to much, not noticiable at first sight and common size, to be a vintage lens. Manual focus is good.

On apsc digital sensors it' a great Black and withe lens, the a bit low contrast can catch a lot of gray tones. I love it for street and people ph. when I have to stay a bit far from the scene.

I'would not reccomend this lens for portrait. Even if at 2.8 the low contrast and center sharpness / border softness can make some good pics of faces, but in this focal lenght, at this price, you can get others lenses more specific for portrait, with a better skin rendition, better microcontrast and vibrance, better transition from focus to out of focus, and a more creamy bokeh. But I have to say that I would never buy a over 85mm lens to make headshot portrait on apsc... it's too much and press the elements of human face on the same plane, making it flat and not realistic.

It' a very good tele for general pourpouse on apsc. Fast, well built, sharp, and give result very easy to develop with just an increment of vibrance or contrast, so resolution and sharpness and colours become very very good. Great for b&w street ph. on apsc if you have to shot by 10 foots away.
   
Pentaxian

Registered: September, 2010
Location: Lyon area, France
Posts: 712
Review Date: January 19, 2012 Recommended | Price: $100.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Size and weight
Cons: Contrast a bit low
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 7    Value: 8   

This lens is SMALL and it gives great results! However the output is at times a bit flat (probably should try with a hood) and on my copy, the focus ring is a bit "too much dampened" making it a physical effort to turn it. Maybe it wasn't used enough on this mint copy? I will remedy to that.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: August, 2009
Posts: 417
Review Date: March 18, 2011 Recommended | Price: $100.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Compact tele, combination of weight, length and speed
Cons: None
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 8    Value: 8   

Updated review: I tested this alongside the Tamron SP 90/2.5, which is simply a brilliant lens for macro usage, with a stop of advantage over the Pentax macro offering in the M range. However, I dont have space in my bag for all these lenses at once and am whittling my collection back. Hence I did a bunch of testing at the weekend. The Tamron is very slightly sharper at f5.6, scoring 60lp/mm vs the Pentax M getting 54lp/mm. However from f8-f16 there is nothing to distinguish them at a distance of 6m.

I find this is a nice light tele to use, and confidently grab it for taking photos of my toddler. Its just a shame its not a macro too!

Its subtantially sharper than the M 135/3.5, which was struggling to get over 45lp/mm in my results.

Best used in conjunction with the old Takumar 135mm metal hood.
   
Junior Member

Registered: February, 2009
Posts: 43

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: April 28, 2009 Recommended | Price: $76.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Sharp, Relatively Inexpensive for a fast 100mm F2.8, Good Build Quality
Cons: Purple Fringing in harsh light.

Got this used at KEH (BRG condition) still very excellent quality overall.

Good colors & contrast. Slightly soft wide open at F2.8, but when stopped down to F4 the images become very sharp. Purple Fringing was evident when in harsh lighting conditions (e.g. direct sunlight).

Sample Photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwfchu/3480553381/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwfchu/5644331043/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwfchu/5644892786/
   
Senior Member

Registered: December, 2007
Location: Denmark
Posts: 146

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: August 7, 2008 Recommended | Price: $20.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Sharp, bright, small, light, nice build quality
Cons: Some pf wide open, bokeh sometimes slightly "busy"

Got this lens as part of an M lens bundle for next to nothing. It's great if just a little long for portraits, and surprisingly sharp wide open. The sharpness is what drives my rating.

It does, however, show some pf/ca (don't know which is which) when wide open with very contrasty shots.
   
Pentaxian

Registered: November, 2018
Posts: 574

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: October 3, 2019 Recommended | Rating: N/A 

 
Pros:
Cons:

Add Review of SMC Pentax-M 100mm F2.8



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